Limbu Tribe and Clans Belong to the
Kirati Nation:
Limbu tribe
and clans belong to the Kirati nation or Kirat confederation that includes the Rai and
Sunuwar who are believed to be the descendants of the ancient Mongolian-Tibeto
people and are still referred as "Mongolians" in Nepal. The name Limbu
is an exonym of uncertain origin. Anyhow the
word Limbu roughly means or translates as an archer or 'the bearer of bows and
arrows'. They call themselves Yakthumba/Yakthung (in Limbu language). They are also known as Shong, Xong or Drenjongka དརེན་འཛང་ཀ་ (inTibet) or Chong, Tsong འསང་ in (Sikkim). Their approx population of 700,000
is centered on the districts of Sankhuwasabha, Tehrathum, Dhankuta,Taplejung, Morang, Sunsari, Jhapa, Panchthar and Ilam, all within
the Mechiand Kosi zones in Nepal, also known as Limbuwan, as well as
the East and West districts of Sikkim. A smaller number are scattered throughout the cities of Darjeeling and Kalimpong in West Bengal, India and also in North and South Sikkim and Bhutan.
Limbu Clans and Tribes are divided into the Lhasa gotra
(those from Lhasa,Tibet) and Yunan
gotra (those who come from Yunan China).
The Limbu are known as das limbu (ten Limbu), even though there are actually
thirteen Limbu sub-groups. Legend says that five of the groups came from
Yunnan, China and the other eight from Lhasa, Tibet.
Unlike the
caste systems brought forward to Nepal region since the Hindu invasion, social
discrimination or caste system is not practised among the Limbu people and
Limbu sub-groups, however there are numerous different clans and sects.
The Chinese text called Po-ou-Yeo-Jing translated
in 308 AD refers to the Yi-ti-Sai (barbarians bordering on the north), a name
which is an exact equivalent of Kiratas.
Yakthungba is
most likely a combination of three Limbu syllables: Yakmeans
Hill, thum means place or district, and ba or pa means
inhabitant. which together may be translated as "Hill people". They
are also known as Yak Herders because sections of clans belonging to the Lhasa Gotra people have legends about
their migration from the north (Southern Tibet) via the Olang Tshung Gola pass
(above Taplejung district). Limbu females are called "Yakthungma",
which "Ba" or "Pa" is replaced by Ma to a female gender.
It is set to
believe that Tsong people or Limbu clans in Sikkim were natives from the U-Tsang territory
of Tibet. They migrated from Sjiyatse, Penam,
Norpu, Giengtse etc. of the Tsang province of Tibet. They followed their guru
Matog Lama and settled in Sikkim. The local
people in Sikkim are called Chong, Tsong because of their migration from the
"district of Tsang/ Tsong in Tibet". In Nepal and Darjeeling this
word is also seldom used by Limbus to describe Sikkimese Limbu clans.
Main article: Limbu language
Limbu (Limbu:Yakthungpan;
"Language of the Yakthung/Limbus") is a Sino-Tibetan language spoken
in Nepal, Sikkim, Kashmir and parts
of Northern India, by the Limbu community.
Limbu language
has its own unique evolution of Tibetan and Devanagiriwriting system. Far more Limbus are literate in Nepali than in Limbu, thus
many Limbu publications are accompanied by Nepali translation.
Limbu language
is one of the major spoken and written languages of Nepal, Sikkim and other
parts of Northern India. Today, linguists have reached the conclusion that
pronominalization is indigenous development of Tibeto-Burman language and Limbu
language bears close resemblance with Khambu Sampang and unique Tibetan
dialects. Limbu language has four main dialects-Panchthare, Tamarkhole, Phedape
and Chatthare.
Before the
introduction of Sirijonga script among Limbu Kiratas, Rong script was popular
in East Nepal specially in early Maurong state. Sirijonga script had almost
disappeared for 800 years and it was brought into practice again by Te-Ongsi
Sirijonga Thebe (1704 - 1741 A.D.) of Tellok Sinam who fled to Sikkim where he
was put to death by the Lamas of Sikkim in charge of educating people in Limbu
language and script in 1741. However, historical evidence show that Te-Ongsi
Sirijonga Thebe studied under Sikkimese Lamas and Brahamans in India.
The Limbu
language and literature has been less practiced in Nepal since the last
eighteenth century. The cultural identity of any community was taken as a
threat to the national unification by ruling elites until the recent years. The
use of Limbu alphabets was banned and the possession of Limbu writings
outlawed. There were no specific law about it, but Security Act was enforced
for such cases under the strong directives of Kathmandu.
Limbus have a
number of their own rituals. They worship by means of blood sacrifice. They
believe that lineage divinities are not transmitted patrilineally. Rather, a
woman inherits her mother's gods and when she marries and lives with her
husband, she brings with her the deities that will then be recognized as the
gods of the Household. Every time a bad thing or feeling is caused by the man,
he will have to be washed clean of it. There are also forest deities that
inhabit the area. Limbu bury their dead and observe three to four days of
pollution; the length of the period depends on whether the deceased is a female
or a male, respectively. Drinking and dancing are very important to the Limbus.
Weddings, mourning, gift exchanges, and settlement of conflicts involve much
consumption of liquor, especially Limbu traditional beer popularly known as Tongba. Dancing parties are given for
visitors to the village. These affairs give the young Limbu girls and boys a
chance to meet and enjoy dancing and drinking. Yakthung Limbu Culture is so
rich both in terms of its developmental aspects, its meaning and value.
Yakthung Paan, Limbu language is one of the most primitive language all over
the world. Only the reason to prove that is about its Mundhum the holy
scripture based on oral traditions that Yakthungs do know as insight book or
Sik Sapla. It always starts from its nought point i.e. before the creation
of the universe and the Earth. Language is so unique and great that we can
prove from its highly developed form of linguistic richness. It reaches to the
bottom of the feelings and height of the feelings. It is also regarded as a
science because it always advocates how artistically and logically the Universe,
the Earth was made by Porokmiba Yambhamiba seems like a particular scientist
like albert einstein and some other physisists.
The Limbu
people have their own flag. The blue resembling the water bodies and the sky,
the white: air and peace, the red: the earth and pure blood of the Limbu
people. The sun in the centre is the most important for all Limbus for various
spiritual practices and everyday living. This flag was destroyed in 18th
century after the Gorkha invasion.
The Limbus
traditionally practiced subsistence farming. Rice and maize comprised their
principal crops. Although there is an abundance of arable land, productivity is
greatly limited by insufficient technology. Excess crops are often traded for
food that cannot be grown in the region. A sizable number of Limbu youths are
enlisted in the British and Indian Gurkharegiments, providing their families with a steady stream
of income. The Limbu community as a whole was lifted considerably in terms of
health and education. They have good living standard compared to others.
Limbus, in
general, marry within their own community. Boys are at liberty to choose a girl
and girls are equally free to decide whether to spend life with the boy in
question or not (Jones and Jones, 1976). Cross-cousin marriage is not allowed
in Limbu culture. Marriage between a man and the widow of his elder brother can
take place if they mutually agree. Marriage between a man and a woman outside
family relations and having different thars (clans) is also possible either by
arrangement or by mutual consent of the boy and the girl in question. It is
conventionally said that the customs and traditions of Limbus were established
in the distant past by Sawa Yethang (council of eight kings/leaders). The
marriages are mostly arranged by parents or result when a boy elopes with a
girl. Asking for a girl's hand, that is the most important ceremony. In that
system, the girl can ask for anything and an unlimited amount of gold, silver,
etc. This confirms to the girl's family that the boy is financially secure
enough to keep their daughter happy. Few days after the wedding, the boy's
family members have to visit the girl's house with a piglet and some alcoholic
and non-alcoholic drinks depending upon the financial standard of his house.
The key ceremonies of a Limbu wedding take place in the groom's house rather
than that of the bride's because girl has to stay with her husband. There are
two special dances in this ceremony, one is called "yalakma" or dhan
nach in Nepali(rice harvest dance) and "Kelangma" or Chyabrung in
Nepali. Yalakma is characterized by men and women dancing in a slow circle,
whereas Kelangam consist of complex footwork that goes with the beat of the
drums. Anyone can join the dance and they can go for long hours. Yalakma also
celebrates the harvest season in addition to being a feature of social
occasions including weddings.
The Limbus
follow the Kirant Mundhum oral 'scripture' similar to the Bön,shaman. However, their religion is also
influenced by later Tibetan Buddhism, and Hinduism. They have their own distinct religion known as
"Yuma Samyo" or "Yumaism". They also have many different
classes of ritual specialists, of which "Phedangma",
"Yema/Yeba", and "Shamba" are some. Their supreme deity is
Tagera Ningwaphuma, but the deity Yuma (literally: "Grandmother" or
"Mother Earth") is the most important and popular among the Limbus
and is worshiped in all occasions. Yuma is the mother of all the Limbus,
therefore one regards his or her mother as a goddess. Their religion is
enshrined in the evergreen Cynodondactylon (Dubo) grass. Traditionally, they
buried their dead but due to the influence of their Hindu neighbours, cremating
is gaining in popularity as well. Limbu people also has its own clergy/ priest,
such as Phedangma, Samba, Yeba (male) Yewa-Yema (female). Mundhum is spoken in
a form of poetry or a song. According to the Nepal Census of 2001, out of the
359,379 Limbu, 86.29% were practising traditional Kiranti religion and 11.32%
were Hindu and others. Modern Limbus, especially those living in parts of India
also been influenced by Christianity.
The
folk-literature of the Limbus is very rich and because of this, the Limbus
residing in Sikkim, Darjeeling, Assam, Nepal and Bhutan, have their own
identity because of immense belief in "Yumawad". Their traditions and
cultures are still alive. Yumawad is a type of religious scripture, which have
been continuously kept alive by their religious head and handed over from
generation to generation verbally. Some of these oral transmission of religious
and traditional teachings are also included in Limbu traditional music with the
mixture of social stories, dreams or just plain everyday life. There has been a
rich tradition of Limbus singing their folk-songs. Their folk-songs can be
divided into the following groups:
1. Khyali -
a conversational song but young girls and boys sing it with poetic expressions
and in a very sweet tone.
2.
Traditional Love Songs -
1. Sakpa Palam Samlo - This
song is sung during the Kusakpa Yeaalang dance in fast beat.
2. Kemba Palam Samlo - This
song is sung during the Kemba Yeaalang dance in slow beat.
3. Domke Akma Palam Samlo - It
is sung when doing the normal chores and also during the Domke Akma dance.
3. Hakpare
Samlo - this song is sung by middle-aged men and women, who have
interest in Mundhum and who are well-known in it. One can find spiritual and
worldly specialities in this song.
4. Nisammang
Sewa Samlo - This song is sung during religious functions. It is a
devotional song. Dancing is one of the important aspect of the life of Limbus.
Based on acting-style, the following types of dances are performed:
1. Dance performed after origin of life: This
type of dance is known as Ke Lang or Chyabrung Lang. The dance imitates the
actions of animals, insects and any form of living beings.
2. Agricultural dance: Under this type of dance
there are -
1. Yea Kakma- This dance is
performed after night falls after the crops are reaped.
2. Damke Akme- This dance is
performed while sowing crops.
3.
War dance: This form of dance is known as 'Nahangma' and is performed
during "Nahangma"- their religious function. In this dance, only
adult males and "Shamani" priests can take part. During the dance,
they carry a sword in their right hand and a shield in their left hand, or an
arrow in their right hand and a bow in their left hand.
4. Historical dance: In this dance form, the
historical war of ten Limbus fought in Aambepojoma Kamketlungma is depicted.
5. Mysterious and ancient dance performed by Shamani
priests: this type of dance is known as Yagrangsing Lang, Phungsok Lang, Tongsing Lang. The
dance is performed only by the Shamani priests viz. Fedangma, samba, Yewa and
Yema.
Limboo musical
instruments are Niyari Hongsing Ke, Chyabrung, Miklakom, Simikla,
Chethya/Yethala, Ta, Tungeba, Ungdung, Yalambar Baja, Tetlafakwa, Mephrama,
Negra, Yea Pongey, Puttungey, Phakwa, Phamuk, Phenjekom, Megphama etc.
For the Limbu
people, Archery has always been considered as the main traditional sport.
Archery often involve religious demonstrations and rituals. Historically, Limbu cavalry archers
were the main key for resisting certain invasions that were followed before
pre-Nepal era. The word "Limbu" itself came from the word
"Lim-pfungh" which in translation means "Shooting-Arrows"
or "Act of archery". There are legends about when Limbuwan Gorkha war
began, a Gorkha Military General met a Yakthung hunter in a forest and when the
General asked the hunter his presence there and what he was doing, the Yakthung
hunter replied "Lim-pfungh". Gorkha army had later experienced the
fierceness from the Yakthung-Tribes' horseback archers which the Gorkha-Limbu
war lasted for years. Thus, the name "Limbu" was registered and
recorded on the papers of the Gorkhas to describe the Yakthung people. However,
after the success of Gorkha invasion, horse breeding and keeping declined
swiftly in Limbu territories.
Bare-hand
Wrestling has also been practised among the Limbu males during festivals. This
was also done to settle personal matters after a festive drinking which the
losing wrestler would then have to pay the winner by buying him a drink or
inviting to his house for a drink of traditional tongba. "Lakhpa" is the term for
wrestling in Yakthung-pan.
Though Limbus
aren't Hindu, they are recognized in Hindu Society. Nepal's pre-eminent
sociologist, Professor Dor Bahadur Bista, asserted that, of all the proverbial
thirty-six caste and ethnic groups of Nepal, the Hindu caste system made the
least impact on the Limbu. In part, this reflected not only their geographical
distance from the seat of power in the capital city ofKathmandu but also their cultural independence.
Basantapur also hosts trekkers on the way to Mt. Kanchenjunga in Taplejung and the popular Teenjure Milke-Jaljale Trail.